Course coordinator

Prof. Marina Piria, PhD

Course description

Geologic and climatic changes. Changes of freshwater and marine habitats. Basic characteristics of different aquatic ecosystems. Habitats in marine and fresh waters and their influence on the biodiversity. The significance of biodiversity and its preservation. Reasons for endangering of biodiversity and ways of its protection. Speciation. Molecular biology evolution of aquatic organisms. Overview of all plant and animal phyla, with special emphasis on important marine and fresh water taxons. Fish biology and ecology. Sampling of aquatic organisms and their in situ study. Laboratory analysis of aquatic organisms. Use of the key for aquatic species determination. Section of fish. Student seminar.

Aquatic ecosystems. Habitat – biodiversity relationship. L - Basic characteristics of different aquatic ecosystems. Habitats in marine and fresh waters and their influence on the biodiversity; Reasons for endangering of biodiversity and ways of its protection; Speciation. Energy and productivity.

Freshwater invertebrates. Marine invertebrates. L - Overview of freshwater invertebrate animal phyla, with special emphasis on important freshwater taxons. Overview of marine ivertebrates, with special emphasis on important marine taxons.

Marine invertebrates L - Overview of marine ivertebrates, with special emphasis on important marine taxons.

Aquatic vertebrates L - Overview of aquatic vertebrates, with special emphasis on important marine and freshwater taxons.

Fish biology and ecology L - Basics of fish biology and ecology

Bases searching and communication Pe-L - Searching for scientific literature by internet and scientific bases. Presentation of seminars by internet.